REVEALING LINKS BETWEEN SPACE EXPLORATION AND UNDERSTANDING OUR EARTH AT MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER: PIONEERING SPACE, PRESERVING EARTH

Space exploration and our understanding of Earth belong to a mutual continuum, enabling us to collectively transcend the complex environmental and spacefaring challenges faced by humanity today. In the past, the space exploration community differed from the one that focused on the study and protection of Earth’s environment. Advancements in propulsion, spacecraft, life support systems, and earth observation technology have enabled these communities to work together, deepening our understanding of the Earth. There are abundant connections among space exploration, environmental preservation, and protection of life on Earth. The objective of this investigation is to reveal the full range of these links within science and technology endeavors at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC). In order to identify these links, data collection and research interviews at MSFC and the National Space Science Technology Center were conducted. Past and current MSFC achievements and their environmental benefits were detailed in a technical white paper. Highlighting these connections provides an opportunity to share with stakeholders, partners, NASA employees, and the general public a powerful and coherent NASA story.